In Flower This Week

As you leave the Visitor Centre, do pause to look at the rare Wollemi Pines,
Wollemia nobilis, in the foyer and then at the tubs on either side of
the entrance. In the tub on the left hand side is GrevilleaExcellence,
with only one prominent flower of quite an unusual colour, mauve tinged with
blue. In the tub on the right is Leschenaultia formosa, a small
plant with bright orange-red flowers. Then wander down the Banks Walk, past
Sir Joseph Banks statue, where there are many small plants. One which catches
the eye is Zieria formosa [Section 174] sporting grey-green foliage
with tiny pink flowers. Then Eremophila nivea [Section 174] has
really silvery-grey foliage with large, tubular, purple flowers. Another grey
foliage plant is Zieria baeuerlenii [Section 221] and it too has
tiny pink flowers, while in the garden opposite is Homoranthus papillatus
[Section 223], a low growing, horizontal shrub covered in a reddish haze of
buds.

Walk down to the lowest level of the northern car park, to where Acacia
cardiophylla Golden Lace [Section 170], a graceful ground cover,
is showing off by draping its fine leaves to advantage. Another Zieria
is Zieria smithii x cytisoides, [Section 170], again with
grey foliage and tiny pink flowers. Walking further on, just behind the small
shelter is a very big Allocasuarina torulosa [Section 171]. When
the sun is on its large drooping branches, the flowers sparkle.

Take a little time to read the interpretive sign about the Tasmanian Garden
and while doing so you may also hear the frogs in the pond below. Ozothamnus
expansifolius [Section 232] is covered in creamy white daisy flowers
in very compact, terminal clusters. Melaleuca squarrosa [Section 236],
though not in flower, is covered in woolly looking grey buds which create their
own show. Just opposite the Franklin Building is a very large Grevillea
victoriae [Section 99f] covered with lots of rusty red flowers in pendulous
clusters. Cross to the amphitheatre where children can romp, inspect the waterfall
and check out the ducks. A pleasant place to stop awhile. Near the Friends
Corner is Acacia covenyi [Section 241] with lots of clusters
of golden yellow balls, quite spectacular. Grevillea diminuta
[Section 239] is another species with pendulous flowers of rusty red while in
the garden opposite is Banksiaericifolia var. ericifolia
[Section 239]. It has wonderful prominent orange flower spikes.

Leptospermum polygalifolium Pink Cascade [Section
10] is just coming into flower with its tiny pink stars. Acacia podalyriifolia
[Section 119] is really a small tree, again with silver-grey leaves and golden
ball-like flowers. Close by is a clump of a Grevillea sericea
hybrid [Section 117] with its typical spider flowers in clusters, almost magenta
in colour.

The Brittle Gum Lawn is another pleasant place to pause awhile and do remember,
there is still lots more to see in these Gardens!